Thomas Mifflin

Founding Fathers
Thomas Mifflin
State	Pennsylvania
Religion	Episcopalian
Founding Documents	United States Constitution

Thomas Mifflin (January 10, 1744 – January 20, 1800) was the first Governor of Pennsylvania. A member of the Continental Congress, he also served as the fifth president of that body. Mifflin attended the 1787 Constitutional Convention and signed the United States Constitution.

Early life[edit]

Thomas was born on January 10, 1744 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to John and Elizabeth Bagnall Mifflin.^[1] He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia in 1760, and embarked on a career as a merchant.

Military Service[edit]

Following the second Battle of Lexington, Mifflin focused on recruiting and training troops for the Continental Army. His passion and patriotism, coupled with his great natural ability, led to rapid advancement. On June 23, 1775, Mifflin was appointed as General George Washington's aide-de-camp; later that same year, on August 14, he was appointed the Continental Army's first Quartermaster General. He served in this position for the remainder of the war, but refused to lead from the rear; he was present at the battles of Trenton, Princeton and assisted in the defense of Philadelphia. Mifflin finally resigned his commission and post on August 17, 1778.^[2]

Thomas and Sarah Mifflin

On March 4, 1767, he married Sarah Morris. Sarah was an amazing woman, and like so many others in her time, she did not want to be a slave to the British crown.^[3]

Continental Congress[edit]

Mifflin served twice in the Continental Congress. He was first appointed in 1774, and served through 1175, leaving to fight in the Revolutionary War. He again served from 1782-1784, and was the President of the Continental Congress in 1783. During his tenure as President, he presided over the ratification of the Treaty of Paris, officially ending the Revolutionary War.^[4]

Constitutional Convention[edit]

Mifflin attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where he called for a balance between state and federal powers, and was one of the signers of the United States Constitution.^[5] Other members of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Convention were George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimons, Benjamin Franklin, Jared Ingersoll, Gouverneur Morris, Robert Morris, and James Wilson.

Later Political Service[edit]

Following his time in Congress, Mifflin returned to politics in his home state of Pennsylvania. He held numerous positions, ultimately serving as the first Governor of Pennsylvania—a position he held from 1790-1799.

Death and Legacy[edit]

Thomas Mifflin died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on January 20, 1800; he was buried in the front yard of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Mifflin had a profound impact upon the state of Pennsylvania, and for that reason, a multitude of townships, counties, schools, and more are named after him. They include:

• Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
• Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania
• Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
• Mifflinville, Pennsylvania
• Mifflin, Pennsylvania
• Upper Mifflin Township, Pennsylvania
• Mifflin Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
• Mifflin Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
• Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania
• West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
• Mifflin Avenue in Scranton, Pennsylvania
• Mifflin Street in Philadelphia
• Mifflin Street in Madison, Wisconsin

Additionally, Mifflin Township in Franklin County, Ohio, is also named after him. The Thomas Mifflin School in Philadelphia was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.^[6]

References[edit]

v • d • e Constitutional Convention Delegates to the Constitutional Convention by State, those who signed the Constitution are indicated by italic. Massachusetts Elbridge Gerry • Nathaniel Gorham • Rufus King • Caleb Strong Reproduction of painting of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and others signing the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Henry Hintermeister. New Hampshire Nicholas Gilman • John Langdon Connecticut Oliver Ellsworth • William Samuel Johnson • Roger Sherman New York Alexander Hamilton • John Lansing, Jr. • Robert Yates New Jersey David Brearley • Jonathan Dayton • William Houston • William Livingston • William Paterson Pennsylvania George Clymer • Thomas Fitzsimons • Benjamin Franklin • Jared Ingersoll • Thomas Mifflin • Gouverneur Morris • Robert Morris • James Wilson Delaware Richard Bassett • Gunning Bedford, Jr. • Jacob Broom • John Dickinson • George Read Maryland Daniel Carroll • Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer • Luther Martin • James McHenry • John Francis Mercer Virginia John Blair Jr. • James Madison • George Mason • James McClurg • Edmund Randolph • George Washington • George Wythe North Carolina William Blount • William Richardson Davie • Alexander Martin • Richard Dobbs Spaight • Hugh Williamson South Carolina Pierce Butler • Charles Cotesworth Pinckney • Charles Pinckney • John Rutledge Georgia William Few • Abraham Baldwin • William Houstoun • William Pierce Convention Secretary William Jackson The legislature of Rhode Island declined to send delegates to the Convention.